It is illegal to have sexual activity with anyone under 16 but the CICA does not automatically make payments to all victims. It is a criminal offence for a person to engage in sexual activity with someone under 13 regardless of the circumstances, and to engage in sexual activity with someone aged 13 to 16 unless certain narrow defences apply. The scheme recognises that there may be situations where a person aged under 16 has ‘in fact’ consented to sexual activity. There can only be consent ‘in fact’ where you are satisfied that consent was freely and voluntarily given. Someone from the Ministry of Justice must step in to amend the rules on consent.”A CICA spokesperson said: “Child sexual abuse is abhorrent.

Source: The Guardian September 14, 2017 19:38 UTC